"KEEP AN EYE ON WELLINGTON."

Evening Post, Volume LXXVIII, Issue 8, 9 July 1909, Page 3

"KEEP AN EYE ON WELLINGTON."

A KEEN HEAD rAND A BIG MOUTH. [BY TELEGRAPH — SPECIAL TO THE POST.] AUCKLAND, This Day. The speech delivered by Mr. H. R. Spence, acting-Collector of Customs, yesterday, in acknowledging the receipt of a testimonial from the local commercial community on the occasion of his departure to take up the position of Collector of Customs at. Invercargill, was characterised by a certain amount of humour at the expense of the Capital City. When the seat of Government, said Mr. Spence, was shifted from Auckland to Wellington, a large number of Civil servants were transferred there in consequence. Many of them were loth to go, and put it off as long as possible. One pai'ticular man, who had managed to "dodge" it longer than the others, at last received notice that he had to go also, and his family were so much affected that his little daughter, in saying her prayers on the night before their departure, exclaimed, "Dear God, goodbye ! We are going to Wellington !" Occasion was taken by Mr. Spence to refer to the future prospects of Auckland. There, said he, should be no two opinions upon this point. He could see a great future in front of Auckland, especially when the native lands were opened up, but in this connection .he reminded them that Auckland would be subjected to keen competition from Wellington. According to Maori mythology, the North Island was a fish drawn up -from, the sea, with Wellington as the head and Fort Nicholson as the mouth. "It is that head and that mouth I want you to keep your eye on," said Mr. Spence ; "for I can assure you that Wellington is a very keen liead and has a very big mouth."